What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic, lifelong condition where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing ongoing inflammation, deep ulcers, and bleeding. It is important to understand that IBD is not the same as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). While IBS causes discomfort and changes in bowel habits, it does not cause physical damage or inflammation to the bowel. IBD is a serious structural disease that requires medical management to prevent long-term damage to your digestive system.

IBD is an umbrella term that primarily covers two distinct conditions. Crohn's Disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth all the way down to the anus. The inflammation in Crohn's disease can be deep, penetrating through multiple layers of the bowel wall, and often appears in 'patches' with healthy tissue in between. Ulcerative Colitis (UC) only affects the large bowel (the colon) and the rectum. The inflammation is continuous — usually starting at the rectum and spreading upwards — but it is superficial, only affecting the innermost lining of the bowel.